Bangladesh court sentences 5 to death for murder of Saudi diplomat in Dhaka

By

AP

PublishedSunday, December 30, 2012

A special tribunal in Dhaka has sentenced to death five Bangladeshi men for the killing of a Saudi diplomat early this year.

Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali, a 45-year-old official in the Saudi Embassy's consular section, was shot and killed near his home in Dhaka in early March.

Tribunal Judge Mohammad Motahar Hossain handed down the verdict on Sunday about two months after the trial began in October, chief prosecutor Rafiqul Islam said. One of the men was tried in his absence, Islam said.

He said the men can appeal the verdict.

Initial speculation about the death focused on Iran, which has been accused of other international attacks or attempted attacks against diplomats, including Saudis. Iran denies the accusations.